Counselor at Congolese embassy recalled

Congolese Foreign Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwambe decided to recall counselor at the Congolese Embassy in Belgrade Marc Marius Itela Elombola. This came after Elombola's wife, Esther Pascaline Bombeto, was arrested on Monday evening at the Romanian-Serbian border for alleged cigarette smuggling. Counselor at Congolese embassy recalled The Congolese Embassy in Belgrade issued a statement which underlines that the competent authorities will follow the situation closely, and condemns the deed, which tarnishes the country's reputation and traditionally good relations with Serbia. This violation cannot be covered by diplomatic immunity, the statement adds. Bombeto was arrested on Monday evening in Romania after having crossed the border with Serbia, as the police found 18,500 cigarette packets in her car, the romanian prosecutor's office released. Three Serb nationals were also arrested, the release adds, and AFP reported. According to Romanian prosecutors, Bombeto and her husband used to cross into Romania once or twice a week, and, availing themselves of their diplomatic passports in order to avoid customs controls, smuggled large quantities of Albanian cigarettes into the country. Romanian regional prosecutor in charge of the fight against organized crime and terrorism Mircea Andres said that Elombola and his wife are suspected of involvement with a well-organized Serb-led ring which smuggled tax-free cigarettes from Montenegro to Romania, the Associated Press reported. Esther Pascaline Bombeto is arrested by Romanian police (FoNet)

Counselor at Congolese embassy recalled

The Congolese Embassy in Belgrade issued a statement which underlines that the competent authorities will follow the situation closely, and condemns the deed, which tarnishes the country's reputation and traditionally good relations with Serbia.

This violation cannot be covered by diplomatic immunity, the statement adds.

Bombeto was arrested on Monday evening in Romania after having crossed the border with Serbia, as the police found 18,500 cigarette packets in her car, the romanian prosecutor's office released.

Three Serb nationals were also arrested, the release adds, and AFP reported.

According to Romanian prosecutors, Bombeto and her husband used to cross into Romania once or twice a week, and, availing themselves of their diplomatic passports in order to avoid customs controls, smuggled large quantities of Albanian cigarettes into the country.

Romanian regional prosecutor in charge of the fight against organized crime and terrorism Mircea Andres said that Elombola and his wife are suspected of involvement with a well-organized Serb-led ring which smuggled tax-free cigarettes from Montenegro to Romania, the Associated Press reported.